36 SHEEPMEAT COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA ANNUAL MUSTER 2014
ANIMAL HEALTH & WELFARE
National Livestock Standstill
If Australia had an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease, a critical
measure in limiting the spread will be to stop the movement of
all susceptible livestock, initially for a period of 72 hours.
Exercise Odysseus is a series of
discussion exercises and field-based
activities which will be held throughout
2014.
These activities will focus on issues
associated with the implementation
of a national livestock standstill at an
organisation, jurisdictional and national
level. The exercise scenario, which will be
consistent across the exercise program, is
based on an outbreak of foot-and-mouth
disease, initially detected in Queensland.
Exercise Odysseus is aimed at enhancing
national (government and industry)
preparedness for and implementation of a
national livestock standstill in response to
an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease.
The objectives of the exercise are to:
• assess national, jurisdictional
and industry arrangements for
implementing and managing a livestock
standstill.
• assess national, jurisdictional and
industry decision-making processes in
declaring and implementing a national
livestock standstill.
• assess mechanisms for communicating
a national livestock standstill and their
effectiveness.
• assess coordination within and between
government and non-government
agencies and industry, prior to and
during a national livestock standstill.
SCA is a member of the Exercise Odysseus
planning team, working with government
agencies responsible for biosecurity, as
well as Animal Health Australia, and other
organisations in the livestock industries.
For more information please visit:
www.daff.gov.au/animal-
plant-health/emergency
Australian participants engaged in Foot and Mouth Disease Real-Time training in Nepal.